The Department of Public Works occasionally receives calls from residents concerning water flowing from their tap that is brown -- not very appealing, but not necessarily harmful either. If you have any questions or concerns after reviewing the following information, please contact DPW at 431-1011.

So what exactly is the cause?

In general, it is various forms of dissolved iron and it typically can come from two sources, first from groundwater and secondarily from cast iron water mains.

Does it come from our groundwater, the Lloyd wells we draw our supply from?

The City of Long Beach pumps its source water from Lloyd wells that are drilled 1250 feet deep. Due to iron deposits the glaciers dropped 10,000 years ago that dissolved in the groundwater, our source water is high in iron content.  However, the water we pump from these well is pumped to our main Water Purification Plant where it goes through a series of treatment processes to remove the dissolved iron. So the water pumped into our water distribution system is very low in iron and not the source of the periodic brown water.

Does it come from our water distribution system?

The distribution system is made up of over 50 miles of various size water mains, 6 inch to 20 inch in diameter, that deliver water to your home or business. In years past, water mains were primarily made of cast iron and were not manufactured with any type of protective coating on the inside of the pipe. As a result, when water reacts with the cast iron it creates iron oxide that scales the interior of the pipe and settles and dissolves into the water. There are several things that can increase and disturb scaling of the pipes, including temperature changes, pipe settlement, water main breaks or when there is a significant reversal of flow such as a fire hydrant being opened. Water main breaks occur more frequently in the winter and spring when temperatures result in the ground freezing and thawing. Although iron presents no health hazard, high levels may cause a staining on plumbing fixtures and laundry.

Other sources of iron discolored water can come from the bottom of your hot water heater and be mixed into the water when emptying it. This is because too high a temperature in your hot water tank can break down the treatment the Water Purification Plant provided to stabilize any remaining iron in the water. Hot water tanks should not be set over 120 degrees. In addition, sometimes when water is turned off for repairs and turned back on when repairs are completed, the water flowing from our faucets may be brown in color. Although these iron particles lie undisturbed, a sudden and forceful movement of water lifts them from the bottom of the pipe and mixes them into the water.

Is this water safe to drink?

Even if your water is discolored, it poses no threat to your health. Iron is not normally considered harmful to health, but can cause off-taste, odor or staining problems. You may choose not to drink the water during the flushing process. We suggest that you keep a pitcher of clean water in your refrigerator. If our lab tests the water and concludes that the water has excessive levels of iron, we will notify you not to consume it until it becomes clear again.

How long will it take before the condition clears itself?

Unfortunately, this is rather hard to predict, since each situation is different. Normally the water will clear in between four and eight hours. City crews work to flush hydrants to relieve the issue.

My laundry has become stained, now what?

Please call the City of Long Beach DPW at (516) 431-1011 and request a package of "Rust be Gone." This laundry additive will remove the iron stains from your laundry, if used properly as directed on the package.

What are we doing to remove iron from our water?

The City is working to replace water piping at an unprecedented pace. When road reconstruction projects are done, the City includes replacement of water, sewer, and drainage pipes.  Cast Iron water distribution pipes are replaced with Ductile Iron Pipes which have an interior cement lining to protect against the formation of iron oxide. Ductile Iron Pipes are also less likely to leak due to settlement breaks caused by freezing and thawing.  While it is not economically feasible to replace all pipes at once we treat the water in a manner that coats the interior of pipes to slow the formation of iron oxide.

In addition to flushing the entire distribution system in the spring and fall City crews also work to identify affected areas and spot flushes fire hydrants to help clear iron and sediment. When flushing takes place in your neighborhood, you may experience some low pressure and/or water discoloration. Once the hydrant flushing is complete, the water will return to normal.